The Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee voted to report H.321 (draft 6.2) favorably after the Legislative Council presented three substantive changes: removal of an excise-tax spillover beyond forecast, removal of a proposed special fund tied to the Land Access and Opportunity Board, and the addition of a requirement that the event-permit board “prioritize social equity applicants” as defined in the cited statute.

Committee staff said the changes reflected earlier policy decisions and attempts to align statutory language with existing rules and fiscal expectations.

Kirby Keaton of Legislative Council presented the draft amendments and said there were “three changes” from the prior posted draft: first, removal of the excise-tax spillover beyond forecast from the excise tax language with the understanding that a different committee will handle that issue; second, removal of a special fund to support the Land Access and Opportunity Board while retaining the board’s new member; and third, addition of a subsection to the event-permit session law directing the board to “prioritize social equity applicants as defined by 7 b s a 9 11 and any related rules” when deciding whether to approve an application.

Legislative Council staff clarified the intended scope of the social-equity prioritization: the added language is meant to apply to permit applicants and participating retailers for permitted events to the extent the applicants seek approval under that section.

A committee member moved a favorable committee report on H.321 (draft 6.2). The committee took a roll call; the clerk recorded votes in the affirmative and the motion passed. The committee chair noted they will present the committee's report on the floor.

The reported changes remove the special-fund mechanism from the bill, preserve an additional board member, and add an express statutory prioritization of social equity applicants to align board decisions with existing statute and board rules.